John Elway had the orange mojo going on Wednesday.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback had Bronco orange grips on some of his golf clubs and predominantly orange shafts on some of his woods Wednesday as he competed in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for the first time since 2010.
“He’s definitely representing the Broncos,” caddie Davis Bryant said of the current Broncos general manager.
And though Elway is busy these days as a team executive, his game held up very well at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. He was one of just seven players who broke par on Wednesday as his 1-under 71 left him in a share of fourth place.
Elway trails co-leaders Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Village, fellow amateur Tom Musselman of Telluride and Colorado PGA professional Mike Northern of Colorado Springs by one stroke in the 54-hole event. Moore is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, Northern is a four-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year, and Musselman was runner-up in the 2013 CGA Senior Match Play.
Suffice it to say it was a pleasant surprise for Elway to be near the top of the leaderboard.
“I didn’t make a lot of putts but I played about as good as I could play,” the 53-year-old said. “I was thrilled to be 1 under. It was a great start.
“I love to be able to play competitive golf. I don’t get to do it a lot. But it gets some butterflies going, gets the competitive juices flowing. I really enjoy it.”
Elway has played in four HealthOne Colorado Opens and is competing in his second Colorado Senior Open. In 2010, he was tied for low amateur at the event after one round and finished in 52nd place overall.
On Wednesday, while paired with his longtime swing instructor, Meridian Golf Club head professional Paul Lobato, and three-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Bill Loeffler, Elway shot the best round of the threesome. He made three birdies and two bogeys on the day.
Elway (left) said he’s gotten in five or six rounds since the NFL draft three weeks ago. But he’s not on the course nearly as much as he was prior to becoming a Broncos executive early in 2011.
“I used to be able to get out to Palm Springs and spend a couple months out there,” he said. “I’m not playing nearly as much now, especially because we ended late (in the Super Bowl), which is what we want.
“I don’t remember my bad habits yet,” he joked.
One of the rounds Elway played recently was at GVR with Lobato, course general manager Matt Bryant and Bryant’s 14-year-old son, Davis.
After that, Elway asked Davis, a regular competitor in CJGA events, to caddie for him at the Senior Open, if Davis’ schoolwork permitted.
“He’s a great little player,” Elway said of Bryant. “He’s been around this track so many times and he knows the greens like the back of his hand. He was such a huge help. I’m glad he was able to get out of school and take care of it with his teachers and help me out.”
Coincidentally, Davis Bryant’s first day caddying for Elway came the same day his dad Matt celebrated his 40th birthday. (Elway is pictured at top with Davis Bryant.)
“My teachers said, ‘definitely, take advantage’ (of the opportunity to loop for Elway) but I had to make sure I had everything done in school,” Davis Bryant said. “It’s a very special opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime thing that I’ve been able to experience. I got to hold his clubs, sit in the cart with him. Everything about it was amazing.”
Elway usually plays in the Charlie Coe Invitational team event at Castle Pines Golf Club this week, but this time he opted for the Senior Open.
“I’ve got a great partner there (at the Charlie Coe, Tom Hart), but sometimes I rely too much on my partner there,” Elway said. “I’ve got to get a little more experience (on my own). Tahoe is the third week in July, and before I play there I’d like to play some other tournaments.”
Elway has finished third and sixth in the last two American Century Championship celebrity tournaments in Lake Tahoe.
Elway was one of three amateurs to break par on Wednesday, along with Moore and Musselman.
Joining Elway in a share of fourth place at 71 were defending champion Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Scott Sommers of Frederick and Bill Harvey of Hampton Bays, N.Y.
Andonian-Smith Starts Strong in History-Making Appearance: Sherry Andonian-Smith of Castle Rock not only scored a first on Wednesday — by becoming the first female to compete in the Colorado Senior Open — but her first-round performance was very competitive.
The 51-year-old PGA teaching professional at Valley Country Club in Centennial shot a 2-over-par 74 and shares 21st place after round 1 at Green Valley Ranch.
“I hit the ball fantastic. It exceeded my expectations,” Andonian-Smith (pictured above) said. “It would have been nice to make a couple of putts, but that’s golf. Maybe tomorrow they’ll fall. But that’s as good as I’ve hit it this year.”
Andonian-Smith said she’s never played a tournament round on a course so long as GVR was set up on Wednesday (6,942 yards). But that didn’t keep her from a strong, consistent round — one birdie, three bogeys and 14 pars on a course that didn’t yield a score lower than 70 on Wednesday.
“I’ve never played in a tournament this long ever,” she said. “Even the major championships I’ve played in have not been this long. And I’m old now.
“I’ve never made the first fairway before (over a 230-240-yard forced carry), and I made it today. That was my goal for the whole round really. It was downwind today. I think my dad was up there watching over me and giving me some downwind.”
So did Andonian-Smith get a sense of making some history on Wednesday?
“Yes, definitely, especially from all of the women” on hand, she said. “It’s very special. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think it was going to be special. That ball that made it over on the first hole is going to be saved. That’s one of the harder shots I’ve ever had to hit in my life. It was cool.”
Andonian-Smith said it would be “awesome” to make the 36-hole cut on Thursday. To do that, she’ll have to remain in the top 55 players and ties.
Notable: Rohrbaugh, who competed in the Senior PGA Championship last week, opened with a 1-under-par 71 on Wednesday, making five birdies and four bogeys. … The overall low professional after 54 holes will earn $8,500. … Bill Loeffler, winner of three Colorado Opens and one Colorado Senior Open, was bogey-free and 2 under par going into No. 16 Wednesday. But he double bogeyed 16 and 18 coming in and shot 74. He had no bogeys for day, but carded two doubles.
For Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.
